There was something different about the learning atmosphere this time. Instead of a typical class, the room was filled with creative student works—ranging from educational media and product prototypes to dental-themed souvenir ideas. The lecture hall transformed into an exhibition space.
The idea was initiated by Dr. drg. Archadian Nuryanti, M.Kes., the lecturer in charge of the Dental Anatomy topic. In the final session, she decided to adopt a more applied learning approach through a final assignment titled the Dental Mascot Project (18/11). Dental Mascot Project (18/11).
drg. Archadian explained that the project aims to foster student creativity while producing works that could later be developed into FKG UGM-branded products or souvenirs. “Usually, lecturers dominate the delivery of material, but in this session, students take the lead in presenting and demonstrating their ideas,” she said.
She added that the activity has been implemented for three years and has gradually become a much-anticipated academic tradition. This year, it involved all Dental Education students from the Class of 2025, both regular and international programs.
Each student group had the opportunity to present their work. Various innovations based on students’ understanding of dental anatomy were translated into educational media, interactive models, and product concepts with further development potential.
One example was a project by Zeze and her team, who created TUTI: Teach You to Improve. TUTI is a dental health education prototype in the form of a lower jaw model equipped with practical features: accurate representations of tooth morphology, an hourglass to measure 30 seconds of brushing time on each side of the mouth, a toothbrush holder, and a rinsing container. All components were produced using 3D printing technology.
“We wanted to create something that is not just decorative, but truly usable for education,” said Zeze during her presentation. She added that TUTI is designed for use in schools, community health centers, and even at home to help instill proper oral health habits from an early age.
Through projects like this, students not only learn dental structure theory but also sharpen their creative, problem-solving, and communication skills. “It is very possible that ideas emerging from this class will develop into larger innovations,” Drg. Archadian expressed.
Writer and Photographer: Fajar Budi Harsakti
